MacBooks are notorious for getting really hot when performing intense tasks, but there are a few tricks you can try to keep your MacBook cool under pressure.
Laptops are generally used when streaming videos, playing games, etc. It does tend to get really hot, and this is mostly thanks to how the internal components are crammed into such a small space.
Of course, most laptops have fans that circulate air, but sometimes that just doesn’t keep it as cool as you’d like.
MacBooks are known to get very hot even when doing simple tasks like watching YouTube videos, and it gets worse when playing games or editing videos. has been countless threads It was created on Apple’s Support Communities Forum because users are concerned about the temperature of their MacBook, so you’re definitely not alone in this.
We’re going to show you a few tricks you can try to prevent your MacBook from overheating, but first we need to answer the question of whether your MacBook is overheating or just being hot. on and to fulfill the duties.
Is Your MacBook Overheating?
Many MacBook users believe that if their machine gets really hot, it should overheat, but that’s often not the case. In fact, a MacBook will technically never overheat because it has sensors that detect the temperature of its components and automatically shut down the MacBook when they reach a certain temperature. This is to prevent components from being damaged by high temperatures.
If your MacBook isn’t randomly shutting down due to heat issues, there’s really nothing to worry about.
However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause components to degrade slowly over time, so it’s important to keep your MacBook as cool as possible, even if your MacBook isn’t overheating.
Of course, it’s nothing to be paranoid about, because there are millions of MacBooks that have been running error-free for hours a day, for many, many years, but keeping your MacBook cool will help prevent it from overheating when it’s a task-intensive task. It never gets to that point.
Upgrade Your MacBook
If you’ve ever felt the bottom of your MacBook, it’s probably pretty hot. All components are stored just on the other side of this aluminum shell, and because they’re so tightly packed, they need as much air circulation as they can get to stay cool.
That’s why we recommend getting a laptop stand if you work at a desk. Laptop stands lift your MacBook off the desk surface, allowing air to get under it and cool it better. This also allows heat to escape efficiently.
Also, since you want the screen to be at eye level, the height of your MacBook will make your setup more ergonomic.
There are tons of laptop stands to choose from but our favorite has to be the Griffin Elevator ($35 at Amazon It comes with a brushed aluminum frame (with a few plastic parts) and a simple design to fit your MacBook. It raises your laptop so that you’re looking at your screen at eye level rather than down, and it saves space by allowing you to store items underneath.
It also keeps your laptop cool by lifting it off the desk surface to allow air to get under it, and the two fulcrum arms ensure it’s free of any clogging. For just $40, it’s an inexpensive purchase that will greatly improve your workspace setup.
Avoid Softer Surfaces
If you are unable to upgrade your MacBook, it is recommended that you at least place it on a hard surface rather than a soft one.
You can use your laptop in bed like many users do, but putting your MacBook on a pillow or blanket is a very bad idea. The fabric essentially absorbs and does not dissipate heat, making your MacBook even warmer. But leaving your MacBook in a rough service allows the heat to escape easily.
If you use your MacBook in bed or anywhere else where there are no hard surfaces, we recommend getting a lap desk. Amazon has a ton to choose from at different price points, so pick the one you like and you’ll be up for the races.
Do Not Use Fan Control Software
You may have been told in the past to use fan control software to better manage the speed settings of your MacBook fan. However, this is usually not a good idea.
Fan control software allows you to change the speed of your MacBook’s cooling fan for a variety of reasons. Maybe it is too noisy when cranked? Use the software to manually override this and set a lower maximum speed.
However, this is a bad idea. The fan speed automatically increases as your MacBook is hot and needs to cool down. Manually overriding the speed setting will prevent this from happening. The best you can do is let the MacBook automatically adjust the fan speed on its own. It was made to do this.
Now, of course, you can also use fan control software to run the fan even when it doesn’t need to be. This shouldn’t be an issue as more overflow is always a good thing, but we guess most users don’t use it that way.
